A HEAVY metal star will sing at the Fawley Hill steam and vintage rally this weekend.

Bruce Dickinson, lead singer with Iron Maiden, will perform on Sunday while former Radio 1 Breakfast Show DJ Mike Read will be on stage on Saturday.

There will also be two talks by wildlife artist David Shepherd and two animal statues, including Boris the Polar Bear, which was in Sloane Square, and Winnipeg Bear — the inspiration for Winnie the Pooh — from London Zoo will be on display.

The event, which will raise money for 30 charities, is being organised by Lady McAlpine, who lives on the Fawley Hill estate with her husband Sir William.
It will celebrate the centenary of the Hudswell Clarke 060 Saddle Tank Engine No 31, which has been in the family for all its working life.

Other attractions will include a Hurricane, Spitfire and a Red Arrow, stationary engines, traction engines, horse-drawn ploughs, JCBs, steam cars, Ferraris, buses and boats. There will also be a display by the Red Devils, an auction, car boot sale, a dog show judged by TV presenter Ben Fogle and children’s craft stalls.

The estate’s animal sanctuary and restored railway will be open to visitors, while the station tea room will sell food and drink to raise money for the summer fireworks display in Marlow Road, Henley.

Lady McAlpine said: “Not only are we looking forward to this event but, because it is unlike modern steam or other vehicle rallies, we are attracting enormous interest across the spectrum of transport and, of course, vintage transport and conservation groups.

“We have 100-year old fairground rides, lovingly preserved. Rallies these days can be very much governed by rules and regulations and this will be ‘as they used to be’. It will be very casual — traction engines playing games.”

Nick English, co-founder of Henley watch company Bremont, will fly over the estate in his Bomber military aircraft.

Sam Brabham, a racing driver and grandson of three-time Australian Formula 1 champion Sir Jack, will bring his racing car to display and there will be a collection of Ecurie Ecosse cars.

The estate will be open tomorrow (Friday) from 6.30pm at £6 entry. There will be entertainment, fairground rides and food and drink.

Tickets for Saturday and Sunday are £10 per day or £16 for the weekend (concessions £8 and £14). Children under 12 enter free. For more information, call (01491) 571373, email estate@fawleyhill.com or visit www.fawleyhill.co.uk